FIBA bans 13 players after Philippines-Australia brawl

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Basketball's world governing body has suspended 13 players and two coaches after a brawl in an Asian World Cup qualifying match between the Philippines and Australia on July 2.

FIBA also fined the teams about 360,000 US dollars between them.

On the Filipino side, 10 players were suspended for unsportsmanlike behavior. Calvin Abueva received the heaviest punishment of a six-game suspension. Roger Pogoy, Carl Cruz and Jio Jalalon were each suspended for five games. Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Jeth Rosario will miss three games while Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright were given one-game bans.

Mathew Wright (L) of the Philippines and Daniel Kickert of Australia exchanging blows in a brawl during their FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier game at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan province, north of Manila on July 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

Assistant Coach Joseph Uichico was suspended for three games while head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes received a one-game ban and fine of around 10,000 dollars.

The basketball federation of the Philippines, which was hosting the match, was ordered to pay a fine of some 250,000 dollars. The Philippine team will also have to play the next home game behind closed doors and was put on probation for three years.

As for Australia, Daniel Kickert was suspended for five games while Thon Maker and Chris Goulding received bans of three games and one game respectively for unsportsmanlike behavior. The country’s basketball federation, Basketball Australia, was fined about 100,000 dollars.

FIBA said that all the money from the fines will be put into "Basketball for Good," a social program launched by the International Basketball Foundation (IBF). Moreover, the governing body decided that the referees of the game will be immediately removed from the FIBA Elite Program and will not work in any international game organized or recognized by FIBA for a year.

Players from benches run to their teammates who figured in a brawl during the game between Australia and the Philippines during a FIBA Asian qualifiers held at the Philippine Arena in the province of Bulacan, north of Manila on July 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

When there were four minutes left in the third quarter of the game, the Philippines were trailing behind 48-79. Roger Pogoy beat down Chris Goulding with his elbow before Daniel Kickert tried to get vengeance for his teammate. The clash soon turned into a violent fight in which almost every bench player of the Philippines joined the fight. In the end, 13 players, including nine from the Philippines and four from Australia were ejected.

After the first round of the qualifiers, the top 3 teams of the four groups will enter the next stage and play in two groups before the top 3 teams of each group plus a fourth-placed team with the best performance can make it into the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Since teams will not play against old rivals from the first round, each team may have about six games left. With 10 players suspended and a closed home court, the Philippines will have a reason to worry.